I have some crazy hens or are they just helpful???

[crj]

I have some French Black Copper Maran hens. One is sitting on about 20 eggs. At least it seems like that many. She has been a sport the entire time. Once in a while I will catch a hen in with her. I usually can get the other hen out of the nest box. It's a 12x12 box. I would stick her in another box that has eggs in it. You would think she would stay but she doesn't. No biggie. Well, tonight I found the poor broody hen almost kicked out of her nest box. Another hen was sitting on the eggs. The broody was sitting on the hen that was sitting on her eggs. I suppose it takes both hens at this point to keep those eggs warm. Goofy birds.

 

[madrooster]

lol double trouble

 

[dkvart1]

had two cats when I was a kid each had 7 kittens a week apart and they were always stealing one anothers kittens. Everytime you'd walk into their room you find different assortments in the boxes and one time all the kittens were in one box and the mama's were snuggled up together in the other box sleeping. Animals do the darndest things.

 

[crj]

Ok, the one hen that was trying to help the broody took over the nest. She actually kicked out the broody. I didn't think that was very fair so I took out Miss Pushy and gave Broody Mama back her clutch. I even blocked out any hens that try to come near her. We will see if that works. They might just jump over the wall. Hopefully not. I did have 2 sets of nest boxes so hens will not be without. I'll check on them in a little while to see how things are going. I can't believe one hen kicked out another and tried to claim the others eggs. Just not right.

 

[crj]

The other hen got around my wall. Miss Pushy is back to kicking out the broody hen. I hope these eggs hatch soon.